The header picture shows Stuart Roache’s HRG bathed in morning light as they stop behind David Ellisons Ford Model A. David had to retire the Model A while Stuart went on to clean all the sections and win Class Five.

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The 2017 Exeter Trial was marred when a competitor lost his life on Wooston Steep. At this time the incident is still under investigation.

Friday evening was very wet and the rain only cleared during the early hours of Saturday morning. Tillerton proved a challenge, especially for the restarters but it was Simms that was the real stopper. Dave Haizelden and his team from Torbay Motor Club had positioned the restart so it was a real challenge for the higher classes and only a handful of cars reached the summit without help from the recovery tractor.

The trial was abandoned with the news from Wooston Steep.

News of the fatality was announced before the meal at The Palace Hotel after which the 2016 awards were presented.

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Ian Davis was best car on Airedale and Pennine’s Yorkshire Dales Trial on 8 May. Ian was one of three clean sheets, but was faster than Mike Chatwin and Charlie Knifton on Special Test Times. It was very much a Class Eight event apart from Sam Holmes who was sixth overall, dropping two marks in his 1300 Beetle. Mick Whitehouse was best motorcycle.

Both the weather and sections made this a challenging Lands End for Class O entrants. The night consisted of mild weather and relatively straightforward sections. Come the dawn came rain, wind and tough sections. In particular there were two formidable long forest tracks near Bodmin replacing the taped chicanes of previous years. Amongst the cars Mike Greenwood denied MCC President Jonathan Laver his second Class 0 award by a mere 0.1 of a second. Trevor Gibb was best motorcycle and nine BH Tin and six Copper medals were awarded.

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Jason Flay has only competed on the Bovey Down Trial twice. In 2004 he won the inargual event in his Lorcha, a feat he repeated in 2016 in his recently acquired Morrs Trialsmaster. It was a close thing though. Harvey Waters finished equal on the hills with his Class 7 Pop but Jason was faster on the Special Tests.

Nick Farmer Reports:-

2016 saw a record entry of 42 for the Bovey Down Trial, from far and near, beginners and experts, and with 2 new sections introduced Windwhistle Motor Club were hopeful of a good days motorsport. After a final check of the sections and a drivers briefing the 41 starters were sent off in 2 groups at 9.30.

It was a tough Lands End. Competitors had to contend with heavy rain, high winds, a heavily doctored Crackington and a flooded Blue Hills One. The result was a mere seven Golds in addition to the Class Awards.